Al-Jazeera, the Middle Eastern satellite TV network that the Bush administration has denounced as the voice of the enemy, goes on the air in English today.

At first glance, this might seem like bad news. In the USA, Al-Jazeera is best known for airing exclusive taped messages from Osama bin Laden and his deputy threatening the West with death and destruction. And U.S. officials frequently express outrage at commentary that's anti-American, anti-Israel or supportive of the Iraq insurgency.

But the new English version of Al-Jazeera could have a positive impact, by exposing Americans to different points of view and perhaps by tempering the Arabic version.

Al-Jazeera, funded by the reform-minded emir of Qatar, has had a stunning impact across the Middle East since it was launched in 1996 as the “Arab CNN.” Offering a mix of timely news, lively debates and criticism of Arab regimes, it challenged propaganda put out by the region's dictators. U.S. officials were initially enthusiastic.

But that was before the 9/11 attacks and the wars on terror and in Iraq, which opened a bitter divide between the United States and the Muslim world. Al-Jazeera was accused of fanning the antagonism by airing the bin Laden tapes and with its often emotional and pro-Sunni reporting from Iraq. It has, however, also tried hard to give differing viewpoints. For all that U.S. officials dislike about it, many now go on Al-Jazeera because it allows them to reach an audience of at least 40 million.

English Al-Jazeera won't be the same as the Arabic version. Its staff is studded with respected names, including star British interviewer David Frost, ex-Nightline correspondent Dave Marash and former CNN and BBC hands.

But here's what's most important: Any visitor to the Middle East can't help but be struck by the different perspective, one that Americans and others rarely see. If they were exposed to it, perhaps that could begin to bridge a cultural chasm. And perhaps more exposure to the professionalism of seasoned Western journalists could curb some of the sensationalism on Arabic Al-Jazeera.

So far, the new version has few major U.S. cable takers (it will also be available atEnglish.aljazeera.net). But it should be welcomed. Audiences are discerning. During the Cold War, many in Eastern Europe listened to Voice of America or the BBC rather than government propaganda. In a globalized world, the broader the conversation and greater the competition for credibility, the better.